An Extensively Humanized Mouse Model to Predict Pathways of Drug Disposition and Drug/Drug Interactions, and to Facilitate Design of Clinical Trials.

Species differences in drug metabolism and disposition can confound the extrapolation of in vivo PK data to man and also profoundly compromise drug efficacy studies owing to differences in pharmacokinetics, in metabolites produced (which are often pharmacologically active), and in differential activation of the transcription factors constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR), which regulate the expression of such enzymes as P450s and drug transporters. These differences have gained additional importance as a consequence of the use of genetically modified mouse models for drug-efficacy testing and also patient-derived xenografts to predict individual patient responses to anticancer drugs. A number of humanized mouse models for cytochrome P450s, CAR, and PXR have been reported. However, the utility of these models has been compromised by the redundancy in P450 reactions across gene families, whereby the remaining murine P450s can metabolize the compounds being tested. To remove this confounding factor and create a mouse model that more closely reflects human pathways of drug disposition, we substituted 33 murine P450s from the major gene families involved in drug disposition, together with Car and Pxr, for human CAR, PXR, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A7. We also created a mouse line in which 34 P450s were deleted from the mouse genome. Using model compounds and anticancer drugs, we demonstrated how these mouse lines can be applied to predict drug-drug interactions in patients and discuss here their potential application in the more informed design of clinical trials and the personalized treatment of cancer.

The cancer preventative agent resveratrol is converted to the anticancer agent piceatannol by the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1B1.

Resveratrol is a cancer preventative agent that is found in red wine. Piceatannol is a closely related stilbene that has antileukaemic activity and is also a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Piceatannol differs from resveratrol by having an additional aromatic hydroxy group. The enzyme CYP1B1 is overexpressed in a wide variety of human tumours and catalyses aromatic hydroxylation reactions. We report here that the cancer preventative agent resveratrol undergoes metabolism by the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1B1 to give a metabolite which has been identified as the known antileukaemic agent piceatannol. The metabolite was identified by high performance liquid chromatography analysis using fluorescence detection and the identity of the metabolite was further confirmed by derivatisation followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry studies using authentic piceatannol for comparison. This observation provides a novel explanation for the cancer preventative properties of resveratrol. It demonstrates that a natural dietary cancer preventative agent can be converted to a compound with known anticancer activity by an enzyme that is found in human tumours. Importantly this result gives insight into the functional role of CYP1B1 and provides evidence for the concept that CYP1B1 in tumours may be functioning as a growth suppressor enzyme.

Delayed effects of tamoxifen in hepatocarcinogenesis-resistant Fischer 344 rats as compared with susceptible strains.

The anti-oestrogenic drug tamoxifen has been under investigation as a breast cancer chemopreventive agent for at least a decade. However, its use for this purpose is still debatable since it is able to induce liver tumours in rats via a mechanism involving metabolic activation to a DNA adduct-forming electrophilic intermediate. The metabolic activation and adduct-forming properties of tamoxifen are now well characterized but less is known about its ability to induce hepatic cell proliferation, which is also essential for the carcinogenic process. The effects of tamoxifen on liver weight and cell proliferation were compared in female Fischer 344 (F344), Wistar and Lewis rats given the drug in the diet for up to 26 weeks. The onset and duration of hepatic cell proliferation varied between the strains of rat. In Wistar and Lewis but not F344 rats there was a marked increase in hepatocellular proliferation during the first 4 weeks of tamoxifen administration. In the Wistar strain this was associated with an increase in DNA adduct levels; no such increase was observed in the F344 strain. The onset of the proliferative response was delayed until the 13 week time point in the F344 strain. By the 13 and 26 week time points, cell proliferation in tamoxifen-treated Wistar and Lewis rat liver had returned to normal, but the amount of apoptotic activity in these livers was elevated. This suggests that excess cells generated during the proliferative phase of tamoxifen treatment were being eliminated by apoptosis. In the F344 strain, however, increased proliferative activity was associated with relatively low apoptotic activity at the 26 week time point, suggesting that the delayed proliferative response had yet to be balanced by apoptotic deletion. This is consistent with the fact that tamoxifen-induced hepatocellular tumours develop very late, towards the end of the lifespan, in this strain. The cell proliferative activity of tamoxifen in the Wistar rat liver was compared with that of a non-mutagenic analogue, toremifene. Tamoxifen induced increased cell cycle activity in the livers of rats following gavage dosing at all sampling times (1-12 weeks), whereas toremifene had no effect on the incidence of cycling in hepatic cells, demonstrating that the hepatic cell proliferation is not a general response to anti-oestrogen treatment. These observations suggest that the rate of promotion of liver tumours by tamoxifen is a function of the rate, time of onset and duration of increased cell replication. The susceptibility of rat strains to the hepatocarcinogenic effects of tamoxifen appears to depend upon the balance between initiation via DNA adduct formation, promotion via increased cell proliferation and cell deletion via apoptosis. Our findings suggest that an early proliferative response to tamoxifen is important in this process.

Association of tamoxifen biliary excretion rate with prior tamoxifen exposure and increased mdr1b expression.

ATPase transporter proteins are commonly found in the hepatocyte canalicular membrane. Some of these, in particular the multidrug resistance (mdr1b) gene, have been previously demonstrated to be inducible genes. In this study, we found that tamoxifen induced expression of the mdr1b gene in the liver up to 40-fold after 14 days' exposure to tamoxifen in the diet at a concentration of 420 ppm. As tamoxifen and its metabolites are primarily excreted into the bile, we investigated if the increased expression of mdr1b in the liver following tamoxifen exposure had any effect on its excretion in rats. We found that the excretion of tamoxifen and its metabolites into bile was increased from 8 +/- 1% to 51 +/- 18% (mean +/- SD) of an administered dose of 180 nmol/kg over a collection period of 3 hr in rats that had received tamoxifen (35 mg/kg) orally for 12 days (plus a 3-day rest) prior to the experiment. These data suggest that prolonged treatment with tamoxifen may result in lower serum and tumour concentrations, due to a self-mediated enhancement of excretion via mdr1b gene-encoded P-glycoprotein. This may have implications for other drugs sharing the same route of excretion and co-administered with tamoxifen.

Mutations associated with in vivo aflatoxin B1-induced carcinogenesis need not be present in the in vitro transformations by this toxin.

Ingestion of aflatoxin B1 is implicated in the high incidence of human liver cancers in several developing countries. An association has been detected between human exposure to aflatoxins, and mutations in the third base of codon 249 of the p53 gene in hepatomas. In vitro experiments using human cell line cells and aflatoxin B1 have demonstrated the induction of p53 mutations in codon 249 and adjacent codons. It was therefore of interest to see if this correlation between the in vivo and in vitro situations held for other species. The present study examined a rat liver-derived cell line, transformed in vitro with aflatoxin B1, for the presence of mutations associated with in vivo aflatoxin-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. In an in vivo rodent model systems using the aflatoxin B1-sensitive male F344 rat, previous studies have shown that hepatocarcinogenesis is accompanied by significant incidences of codon 12 mutations in K-ras and codon 13 mutations in N-ras genes, but in contrast to the human, apparently not by mutations in codon 243 of the p53 gene (which corresponds to codon 249 in the human gene). In contrast to the situation in humans, mutation in the third base of codon 243 in the rat would not result in any changes in amino acid sequence, but mutations in codon 250, as seen in in vitro human systems, would be expressed in the rat p53 protein. In the present study, an immortalised, non-transformed liver epithelial cell line derived from a male F344 rat was transformed in vitro by aflatoxin B1 as demonstrated by tumour formation in nude mice. The transformation was dependent on metabolic activation of the aflatoxin B1. Transfection of DNA, extracted from these tumours, into NIH 3T3 fibroblasts conferred a stable, malignant transforming capacity. However, no mutations in codon 12 of the K-ras or codon 13 of the N-ras genes were detected in any of these tumours. These results indicate that in vitro transformation does not necessarily involve the same mutations, as those observed in vivo. Also, no mutations in codon 243 or adjacent codons of the p53 gene, paralleling those observed in the human cell line treated with aflatoxin B1, were detected. The results serve to emphasise the in vivo and in vitro variation in the oncogene activation in the same target organ or cell lines derived from that organ, even when using a single carcinogen activated by a known metabolic pathway.

Antitumor benzothiazoles. 7. Synthesis of 2-(4-acylaminophenyl)benzothiazoles and investigations into the role of acetylation in the antitumor activities of the parent amines.

2-(4-Aminophenyl)benzothiazoles display potent and selective antitumor activity against inter alia breast, ovarian, colon, and renal cell lines, but their mechanism of action, though yet to be defined, may be novel. Metabolism is suspected to play a central role in the mode of action of these benzothiazoles since drug uptake and biotransformation were observed in sensitive cell lines (e.g., breast MCF-7 and MDA 468 cells) in vitro, whereas insensitive cell lines (e.g., prostate PC 3 cells) showed negligible uptake and biotransformation. N-Acyl derivatives of the arylamines have been synthesized, and in vitro studies confirm N-acetylation and oxidation as the main metabolic transformations of 2-(4-aminophenyl)benzothiazoles, with the predominant process being dictated by the nature of the 3'-substituent. The prototype amine 3 underwent mainly N-acetylation in vitro, while 3'-substituted analogues 4 and 5 were primarily oxidized. N-Acetylation of 4 to 11 exerts a drastic dyschemotherapeutic effect in vitro, but acetylation of the halogeno congeners 5-7 gave acetylamines 12-14 which substantially retain selective antitumor activity. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rats confirmed rapid and exclusive N-acetylation of the 3'-methyl analogue 4, but less acetylation with the 3'-chloro analogue 5. Distinct expression patterns of N-acetyltransferase NAT1 and NAT2 have been demonstrated in our panel of cell lines.

Immunochemical detection of arylamine N-acetyltransferase during mouse embryonic development and in adult mouse brain.

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are important in susceptibility to xenobiotic-induced disorders (e.g., drug-induced autoimmune disease, bladder cancer), but their role in endogenous metabolism is yet to be elucidated. The discovery that human NAT1 acts upon p-aminobenzoylgluatamate (p-ABG) to generate p-acetamidobenzoylglutamate (p-AABG), a major urinary metabolite of folic acid, suggests that human NAT1 may play a role in folic acid metabolism and hence in the normal development of the neural tube. In this study we examined the distribution of NAT in neuronal tissue from adult mice and embryos. Immunohistochemical staining of the adult mouse cerebellum revealed NAT2 (the mouse homologue of human NAT1) expression in the cell bodies and dendrites of Purkinje cells and in the neuroglia of the molecular layer. In embryos, NAT2 was detected in developing neuronal tissue on days 9.5, 11.5, and 13.5. It was expressed intensely in the nerual tube around the time of closure. The level of expression subsequently declined in the neuroepithelium but increased in glial cells. In addition, NAT2 was detected in the developing heart and gut. These findings demonstrate that the embryo itself expresses an enzyme which is involved in the metabolism of folic acid, so that the role played by both mother and embryo must be considered when examining the role of folic acid in embryonic development. These findings imply that polymorphisms in NAT genes could play a role in determining susceptibility to neural tube defects (NTD) and orofacial clefting, developmental disorders which can be prevented by dietary administration of folic acid.

Expression of arylamine N-acetyltransferase in human intestine.

BACKGROUND: Arylamine N-acetyltransferases in humans (NAT1 and NAT2) catalyse the acetylation of arylamines including food derived heterocyclic arylamine carcinogens. Other substrates include the sulphonamide 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), which is an NAT1 specific substrate; N-acetylation of 5-ASA is a major route of metabolism. NAT1 and NAT2 are both polymorphic. AIMS: To investigate NAT expression in apparently healthy human intestines in order to understand the possible role of NAT in colorectal cancer and in the therapeutic response to 5-ASA. METHODS: The intestines of four organ donors were divided into eight sections. DNA was prepared for genotyping NAT1 and NAT2 and enzymic activities of NAT1 and NAT2 were determined in cytosols prepared from each section. Tissue was fixed for immunohistochemistry with specific NAT antibodies. Western blotting was carried out on all samples of cytosol and on homogenates of separated muscle and villi after microdissection. RESULTS: NAT1 activity of all cytosols was greater than NAT2 activity. NAT1 and NAT2 activities correlated with the genotypes of NAT1 and NAT2 and with the levels of NAT1 staining determined by western blotting. The ratio of NAT1:NAT2 activities showed interindividual variations from 2 to 70. NAT1 antigenic activity was greater in villi than in muscle. NAT1 was detected along the length of the villi in the small intestine. In colon samples there was less NAT1 at the base of the crypts with intense staining at the tips. CONCLUSIONS: The interindividual variation in NAT1 and NAT2 in the colon could affect how individuals respond to exposure to specific NAT substrates including carcinogens and 5-ASA.

Localization of polymorphic N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) in tissues of inbred mice.

Like humans, mice exhibit polymorphism in the N-acetylation of aromatic amines, many of which are toxic and/or carcinogenic. Mice have three N-acetyltransferase (Nat) genes, Nat1, Nat2 and Nat3, and Nat2 is known to be polymorphic. There is a dramatic difference in the acetylation of NAT2 substrates by blood from fast (C57BL/6J) compared with slow acetylator (A/J) mice. However, the acetylation of these substrates by liver cytosols from the two strains is very similar. In order to determine whether the expression of the NAT2 protein corresponded with the activities measured, a polyclonal antipeptide antisera was raised against the C-terminal decapeptide of NAT2 and characterized using recombinant murine NAT2 antigen. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) demonstrated that the anti-NAT2 antiserum bound in a concentration-dependent fashion to recombinant NAT2. Immunochemical analysis of mouse liver cytosols from C57BL/6J or A/J livers indicated that the level of NAT2 protein expressed in the two strains was similar. Immunohistochemical staining of C57BL/6J liver with anti-NAT2 antiserum showed that NAT2 was expressed in hepatocytes throughout the liver although the intensity of staining in the perivenous (centrilobular) region was higher than that in the periportal region. NAT2 was also detected in epithelial cells in the lung, kidney, bladder, small intestine and skin as well as in erythrocytes and lymphocytes in the spleen and hair follicles and sebaceous glands in the skin. Characterization of the distribution of NAT2 will be of value in elucidating the role of polymorphic N-acetylation in protecting the organism from environmental insults as well as in endogenous metabolism.

Immunochemical detection of arylamine N-acetyltransferase in normal and neoplastic bladder.

The N-acetyltransferase (NAT) phenotype is an important determinant of individual susceptibility to occupational bladder cancer. N-Acetyltransferases arc known to metabolize aromatic amine bladder carcinogens, but the functional significance of NAT expression in the target organ is unclear. To resolve this issue, polygonal antisera against purified recombinant enzymes and C-terminal peptides of human NAT Type 1 (NAT1) and Type 2 (NAT2) were generated. Western blot analysis of exfoliated cells from human urine, pig bladder homogenate, and human bladder tumor-derived cell lines showed that NAT1 was expressed in all three systems, whereas NAT2 did not appear to be expressed in the bladder. Immunohistochemical analysis of human bladder tumor sections indicated that well-differentiated tumor cells expressed NAT1, with the highest level of expression being found in the umbrella cells that line the bladder lumen. Poorly differentiated tumor regions appeared to express NAT1 at lower levels than did well-differentiated areas. These findings support the hypothesis that aromatic amines are metabolized in the bladder epithelium by NAT1.

Xenogenetics in multifactorial disease susceptibility.

Susceptibility to multifactorial disease includes both genetic and environmental components. These two aspects of susceptibility are interlinked through genetic control of an individual's response to the environment. As a first step in identifying disease susceptibility genes that influence the response of an individual to foreign compounds (xenobiotics), it is necessary to study disorders in which there is an identified environmental trigger. Establishing a DNA resource from individuals with known environmental exposure ('a xenogenetic register') for diseases with an established environmental aetiology is an essential step in beginning to understand how environmental factors contribute to the susceptibility to polygenic diseases. A complementary approach to identification of environmental factors is suggested using a comparison of genetically homogeneous subdivisions of individuals with polygenic diseases where there is no clue to the environmental trigger.

Molecular aspects of chemical carcinogenesis: the roles of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes.

The observation that oncogenes are frequently activated in human tumours raises the question of whether these genes are involved in chemical carcinogenesis. H-ras activation is probably an initiating event in mouse skin and rat mammary gland systems. The H-ras oncogene is also important in mouse liver tumours; in mouse lung the K-ras gene is commonly activated. In both, the mutations observed are usually those predicted from the adduct-forming properties of the carcinogen. Among non-ras oncogenes, only raf and neu have been detected in experimental tumours. Tumour suppressor genes are frequently inactivated in human tumours. Searches for such phenomena in animal tumours have generally had disappointing results. p53 and Rb gene alterations are rarely observed in chemically-induced tumours. The reason may be that unknown tumour suppressor genes are involved in animal tumour development. Several novel genes have been identified using animal tumour susceptibility models. Thus, ras genes are important in chemical carcinogenesis, but as the methodology for studying other genes improves, their roles will be seen in perspective.

Metabolic polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility.

The vast majority of cancers arise as a consequence of exposure to environmental agents that are toxic or mutagenic. In response to this, all higher organisms have evolved complex mechanisms by which they can protect themselves from environmental challenge. In many cases, this involves an adaptive response in which the levels of expression of enzymes active in the metabolism and detoxification of the foreign chemical are induced. The best characterized of these enzyme systems are the cytochrome P450s, the GSTs and the NATs. An unfortunate consequence of many of these reactions, however, is the creation of a toxic or mutagenic reaction product from chemicals that require metabolic activation before realizing their full carcinogenic potential. Altered expression of one or more of these drug metabolizing enzymes can therefore be predicted to have profound toxicological consequences. Genetic polymorphisms with well defined associated phenotypes have now been characterized in P450, GST and NAT genes. Indeed, many of these polymorphisms have been associated with decreased or increased metabolism of many tumour promoters and chemical carcinogens and hence offer protection against or increased susceptibility to many distinct tumour types.

Ras mutations in methylclofenapate-induced B6C3F1 and C57BL/10J mouse liver tumours.

The majority of genotoxic carcinogen-induced liver tumours of the sensitive B6C3F1 mouse contain activated H-ras oncogenes. Such mutations also occur in hepatocarcinogenesis-resistant strains. In order to determine whether this is true of non-genotoxic carcinogen-induced tumours, liver tumours induced in B6C3F1 and C57BL/10J mice by methylclofenapate (MCP) were compared. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed H-ras codon 61 mutations in 11/46 B6C3F1 and 4/31 C57BL/10J liver tumours. The nude mouse tumorigenicity (NMT) assay was used to analyse tumours without codon 61 mutations. Of the 12 B6C3F1 liver tumour DNAs subjected to this assay, one contained a H-ras codon 117 mutation. Further PCR analysis on frozen tumour samples (46 B6C3F1 and 15 C57BL/10J) revealed no codon 12 mutations; one additional codon 117 mutation was identified in a B6C3F1 tumour. Overall, then, H-ras codon 61 mutations were detected in MCP-induced B6C3F1 tumours less frequently than in genotoxin-induced tumours. Two B6C3F1 tumours contained codon 117 mutations similar to those previously found in tumours induced by ciprofibrate, furan and furfural, and in at least one spontaneous tumour. Ras mutations were also detected in some C57BL/10J tumours, providing further evidence that ras oncogenes can participate in hepatocarcinogenesis in resistant mice.

Genotoxicity of tamoxifen, tamoxifen epoxide and toremifene in human lymphoblastoid cells containing human cytochrome P450s.

The clastogenicity of tamoxifen and toremifene was tested in six human lymphoblastoid cell lines each expressing increased monooxygenase activity associated with a specific transfected human cytochrome P450 cDNA (CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 or CYP3A4). The chemicals were also tested in a cell line (MCL-5) expressing elevated native CYP1A1 and containing transfected CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 and epoxide hydrolase, and in a cell line containing only the viral vector (Ho1). Dose-related increases in micronuclei were observed when cells expressing 2E1, 3A4, 2D6 or MCL-5 cells were exposed to tamoxifen. The positive responses in the cell lines were in the order MCL-5 > 2E1 > 3A4 > 2D6. Toremifene also gave positive results with 2E1, 3A4 and MCL-5 cells, although the responses were less marked and the positive effects required higher doses than with tamoxifen. A synthesized epoxide of tamoxifen was also tested in these cell lines and produced similar increases in the incidences of micronucleated cells. The increases in the responses observed with the epoxide were greater than with tamoxifen or toremifene. The P450 isoenzyme activities in these cells were in a range similar to those of human tumour-derived cell lines. Microsomes (1A1, 2A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2E1, 3A4 and 2D6) from these cells all metabolized tamoxifen. The major metabolite detected by HPLC was N-desmethyltamoxifen, and 4-hydroxytamoxifen was also detected in cells with cytochrome P450 2E1 and 2D6. These results are consistent with the following conclusions. (1) Tamoxifen requires metabolic activation to DNA-reactive species by specific CYP monooxygenases in order to exert its genotoxic effects. (2) The positive clastogenic effects elicited in lymphoblastoid cells by tamoxifen epoxide suggest that the genotoxic (and possibly the carcinogenic) effects of tamoxifen may be due to one or more epoxide metabolites that are generated intracellularly, probably in close proximity to the nucleus. (3) Tamoxifen is more genotoxic than toremifene.

Cloning and tissue-specific expression of the cDNA for the mouse Clara cell 10 kD protein: comparison of endogenous expression to rabbit uteroglobin promoter-driven transgene expression.

Uteroglobin (UG) is a hormonally regulated secretory protein produced in the lung and urogenital system of rabbits. It is homologous to rat and human Clara cell 10 kD protein (CC10); however, there are significant differences in the tissue-specific expression between these species. Mouse CC10 (mCC10) protein has been less well characterized. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding the mCC10 protein. The mouse cDNA showed 90, 52, and 51% amino acid homology to rat and human CC10 and rabbit UG cDNA, respectively. The cellular and tissue-specific expression of mCC10 was examined in adult and developing mice. Endogenous mCC10 expression was compared with transgenic mice expressing a fusion gene of the rabbit 3.3 kb UG promoter linked to human growth hormone (hGH) as an easily detectable marker. Northern blot analysis detected mCC10 mRNA only in the lung. hGH mRNA was detected in the lung in levels similar to the endogenous mCC10 transcripts. However, it was also present in trace quantities in the uterus and ovary of normal adult female mice and in the epididymus of adult male mice. hGH and mCC10 proteins were identified in the trachea and lung, where they were localized to Clara cells. Ultrastructurally, hGH was present in secretory granules in the Clara cell cytoplasm and appeared to be secreted into the airways. hGH was initially detectable in 16 day gestation developing mice; however, CC10 was not detectable until the eighteenth day of gestation. We have created an attractive model for comparing the cis-acting DNA elements governing the interspecies variation in tissue-specific expression of CC10.

Cytoplasmic beta-actin promoter produces germ cell and preimplantation embryonic transgene expression.

The cytoplasmic beta-actin promoter, commonly used as strong promoter in many gene regulation studies, produces a pattern of male germ cell and preimplantation, embryonic gene expression in transgenic mice. In seven of ten expressing transgenic lines, a chicken beta-actin-lacZ fusion gene was expressed in adult testes. In addition, five of the ten lines demonstrated transgene expression in the preimplantation mouse embryo. This is the first example of transgene expression at the stages of both gamete and early embryo. Overall, the site or transgene integration appeared to influence transgene expression in adult tissues.

Proto-oncogene activation in liver tumors of hepatocarcinogenesis-resistant strains of mice.

Activation of the ras family of oncogenes occurs frequently in liver tumors of the B6C3F1 mouse, a strain which is highly sensitive to hepatocarcinogenesis. Many other mouse strains are much more resistant to hepatocarcinogenesis; the aim of this study was to determine the frequency and pattern of oncogene activation in spontaneous and chemically induced liver tumors of three such strains, the C57BL/6J, the C57BL/6 x DBA/2 F1 hybrid (B6D2F1) and the C57BL/6 x Balb/c F1 hybrid (B6BCF1). The C57BL/6, DBA/2 and Balb/c strains are all relatively resistant to spontaneous hepatocarcinogenesis (1.5-3.6% of animals develop liver tumors in 2 years); with regard to chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis the Balb/c is highly resistant, the C57BL/6 has low susceptibility and the DBA/2 has low to moderate susceptibility. The nude mouse tumorigenicity assay was used to search for activated oncogenes in 15 C57BL/6J liver tumors induced by a single neonatal dose of vinyl carbamate (VC, 0.15 mumol/g body weight). Three tumors contained H-ras genes activated by point mutations at codon 61 and one contained a non-ras oncogene. The polymerase chain reaction and allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization were used to study H-ras mutations in spontaneous and VC-induced tumors from all three strains of mice. The frequency of H-ras codon 61 mutations in tumors induced by 0.15 mumol/g body weight VC in the C57BL/6J mouse (5/37) was similar to that in spontaneous tumors (2/9); surprisingly, tumors induced by a lower dose of VC (0.03 mumol/g body weight) had a higher frequency of H-ras mutations (12/28). The frequencies of H-ras activation detected in VC (0.03 mumol/g body weight)-induced tumors from the two F1 hybrids studied differed markedly. Only one VC-induced B6BCF1 tumor contained a mutated H-ras gene (1/10), whereas the majority of B6D2F1 tumors contained such mutations (23/33). Several spontaneous B6D2F1 liver tumors contained H-ras codon 61 mutations (6/15). Thus, H-ras activation frequency does not determine susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis in inbred mice and their F1 hybrids, since a relatively high frequency of H-ras mutations was observed in two resistant strains and a low frequency was found in the other strain.

Cytochrome P-450 induction in human lung tumor-derived cell lines. Characterisation and effects of inflammatory mediators.

Cytochrome P-450 species (P-450) comprise a polymorphic multigene family of heme-containing enzymes which are essential to the phase-I metabolism of xenobiotics. Induction of P-450 species by drugs and carcinogens has been extensively studied; endogenous regulation of P-450 also occurs during normal development and disease. The aim of this project was to study the in-vitro induction of P-450 and its modulation by inflammatory mediators in the human lung tumor-derived cell lines NCI H322 and NCI H358. The cell lines expressed detectable levels of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase which could be induced by benzanthracene. After benzanthracene treatment, a protein tentatively identified as isozyme CYP1A1 was detected by Western-blot analysis and a concommitant increase in CYP1A mRNA expression was observed. Optimal induction was observed at a benzanthracene concentration of 5 micrograms/ml with cells grown in RPMI medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. The effects of endotoxin, dexamethasone and five recombinant DNA-derived cytokines, interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor, and interferons alpha, beta and gamma, on constitutive and benzanthracene-induced ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity were examined in NCI H322 cells. Of all the lymphokines studied, only interferon gamma had any marked effect. Administration of this lymphokine strongly suppressed ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity in both control and benzanthracene-treated cells.

Expression of SV40 T antigen under control of rabbit uteroglobin promoter in transgenic mice.

The rabbit uteroglobin gene is expressed in the lungs and reproductive tracts of male and female rabbits. To examine whether the promoter region of the uteroglobin gene could be used to target a heterologous gene to the lungs of transgenic mice, a fusion gene consisting of 3.3 kb of the 5'-flanking region of the rabbit uteroglobin gene and the large T antigen gene of the SV40 virus was constructed and microinjected into the pronuclei of one-cell mouse embryos. Eleven founder transgenic mice (5 female and 6 male) were generated. Seven of these mice developed bronchioalveolar neoplasms. Four of the founder males also developed primitive undifferentiated urogenital tract tumors. One founder female and one female offspring of a founder male developed glandular paraovarian tumors. Northern analysis revealed that the predominant site of expression of the transgene was the lung. Immunohistochemical staining showed T antigen predominantly in epithelial cells lining the bronchioles, the submucosal glands of the trachea, and the neoplasms. There appeared to be a high level of mosaicism for the transgene in the founder mice, with poor transmission of the transgene to subsequent generations. This suggests that, under the control of the uteroglobin promoter, the T antigen gene may be lethal to the fetus.